The Secretary for Home Affairs, Dr Patrick Ho, today (May 5) visited Tin Shui Wai to review the leisure and cultural facilities and the progress of related construction projects.

Dr Ho also took the opportunity to get a better understanding of the needs of the local community for leisure and cultural services.

When planning the provision of such services, the Government will consider the demands of the population which now stands at 260,000.

After touring the construction sites of two projects in Tin Shui Wai, Dr Ho noted that most of the leisure and cultural facilities were developed in the town centre and the southern part of Tin Shui Wai in the early stages of the area's development.

"The district has a public swimming pool, a sports centre, a sports ground, six parks and a public library," he said.

"In view of the growing population and its migration to the northern part, more facilities such as a seven-a-side hard-surface soccer pitch in Area 107 (near Tin Yat Estate) of Tin Shui Shui North is being constructed. It is expected to be completed in 2006.

"Regarding the cultural services, we will provide a mobile library service to meet residents' needs.

"In the meantime, we will speed up the progress of a park in Areas 25, 25A, 25B (near Kingswood Villas) and a project to build leisure grounds in Area 107 (near Tin Yat Estate). Two other prioritised projects comprising two complexes housing sports and cultural facilities will also be accelerated," Dr Ho said.

"Also, we will expedite others included in the 25 prioritised projects mentioned in the Chief Executive's Policy Address."

Dr Ho also paid a visit to the Church of Christ in China Fong Yun Wah Secondary School.

He thanked the school authorities for letting the Leisure and Cultural Services Department (LCSD) and the Home Affairs Department organise monthly recreational activities and community functions, giving the residents more chances to participate in these activities.

He also expressed his gratitude to eight other schools for doing the same.

"I hope that more schools in the area will show their support so more residents can join in these activities," Dr Ho said.